Following a trial that has garnered attention across the globe, Rapper Cardi B has been cleared of assault against a security guard.
Security Guard Emani Ellis alleged the 'Bodak Yellow' rapper had cut her cheek with a two to three inch fingernail and spat on her during a 2018 altercation outside an obstetrician’s office in Los Angeles. According to Ellis, the run in with Cardi B – whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar – left her ‘deeply traumatised'.
In the latest update, the jury took only an hour to clear Cardi B of allegations of assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as negligence and false imprisonment.
Ellis had attempted to sue the rapper for $24m (£18m). Following the ruling, Cardi told reporters, 'I work all day and I work hard for my money, for my kids, for the people that I take care of. So don't you ever think that you're going to sue me, and I'm just going to settle.' She also called for fans not to bother Ellis or her family.
Outside, the Alhambra courtroom became a hot spot for music fans who stepped out to show their support for Cardi, who was seen greeting fans and signing albums during her lunch breaks. One handmade sign read, 'If the nail don't fit, u must acquit,' – a pun referencing the trial of OJ Simpson, where gloves replaced fingernails as the topic of debate.
With the million-pound lawsuit now finished, here's a recap on Cardi B's assault trial.
Why was Cardi B in court?
Security Guard Emani Ellis attempted to sue the rapper over an alleged altercation that took place in 2018. She filed to sue Cardi B in 2020 for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, also alleging that the musician had used her celebrity status to get her fired from her security job.
Taking to the stand earlier at the Alhambra, California courtroom, Cardi B recalled arriving at a Beverly Hills medical building for a doctor’s appointment in 2018 while pregnant with her first child – something she had not yet revealed to the public. She testified that upon leaving an elevator, Ellis began filming her on a phone and following her against her will. A 'verbal alteration' then took place, with the rapper denying anything physical unfolded.
Where is the Cardi B security guard video?
One of the main points of contention in the trial, which was available to watch online, is the alleged video Ellis took of Cardi B. The video itself was not released online and Cardi B noted that no video footage of the incident had been found.
What did Ellis say about Cardi B?
Ellis - who was seeking $24m (£18m) from the rapper - told jurors that she had said the Grammy-winning musician's name out of excitement upon seeing her, but did not film her or inform anyone that she was there. According to Ellis, Cardi B accused her of trying to spread news about her being at the doctor’s, going on to insult and threaten her. She then reportedly spat on Ellis, before attacking and scratching her with her long fake nails.
Ellis alleged that she was simply doing her job greeting the rapper at the building, explaining, ‘After she heard me say her name, she turned back around, and the first thing out her mouth was, excuse my language, “Why the [expletive] are you telling people that you seen me?”’
‘She was like, “[Expletive] you, you fat-ass [expletive], I’m gonna get you fired, [racial slur], that’s why you do security.’
A plastic surgeon testified during the trial that he had treated Ellis back in 2022 for a ‘hyper-sensitive’ scar on her cheek, ‘most likely’ caused by fingernails.
What did Cardi B say about Ellis?
The 'I Like It' rapper told jurors that when she stepped out of an elevator, Ellis – who was working as a security guard in the building at the time – told someone on the phone that she was there, before following her down a hallway. After Ellis appeared to record on her phone and refused to ‘back up’, an altercation ensued.
Cardi B’s legal team argued the star had ‘feared for her unborn baby'. They also questioned why the former security guard had chose to file her suit two years later, and didn't take pictures of her initial injuries.
Taking to the stand, the rapper - who shares daughters Kulture, six, and Blossom, 11 months, and son Wave, three, with her estranged ex Offset - described feeling nervous and concerned during the encounter. With a height of just 5'3, she said she was approximately ‘130 pounds and pregnant’ at the time, with Ellis appearing significantly larger. Cardi admitted shouting an obscenity at Ellis, but while they were ‘screaming at each other’, she denied any assault took place.
‘I didn’t touch her. It was like a verbal fight, but it didn’t get physical at all,’ Cardi B shared, adding, ‘I didn’t hit her. She didn’t hit me. There was no touch, So to me, there was no incident.’
The entire confrontation was said to last around 40 to 50 seconds before a receptionist intervened. Shortly after, Cardi B's doctor emerged from his office, and the star went into her appointment. The rapper's case was bolstered by testimony from the doctor she was at the building to see, as well as his receptionist - Tierra Malcolm - who stepped between the arguing women. Malcom testified that Ellis was the aggressor, with the security guard swinging her arms in an apparent attempt to hit Cardi B, which resulted in a cut on Malcom's head.
When asked about the physical evidence, Cardi B also explained that she was wearing rounded, ‘opal’ shaped acrylic nails with rhinestones, emphasising that they were not sharp. She testified that she saw no cuts or scrapes on Ellis’s face during the incident, and that none of her fingernails were damaged or broken afterwards. Cardi noted that no video footage of the incident had been found, with her legal team checking for any available security cameras in the medical building.
At another point, the line of questioning shifted as the Ellis's lawyer asked Cardi B whether her hair was real with the star laughing, ‘They’re wigs.' The lawyer then went on to ask if she had any gang affiliation, with her legal team immediately objecting. In April, Cardi B’s legal team had argued to exclude references to her past, including alleged gang associations, stripping history, and drug-related claims. They noted that such details risked prejudicing the jury by portraying the rapper as a ‘bad person,’ rather than focusing on the evidence at hand.
Is Cardi B being sued for throwing a microphone?
Her trial hasn't been the only legal trouble Cardi B has been facing. The star is also being sued for assault, battery, and negligence by another woman, referred to as Jane Doe, whom she struck with a microphone while performing in Las Vegas over two years ago.
In a clip that went viral, Cardi B was reportedly seen asking the audience to cool her down at the Drai’s Beachclub show by throwing water at her. While many people complied, the rapper allegedly grew angry after Jane Doe threw water at her face, retaliating by throwing the microphone at her. Jane Doe also stated that the auction of the microphone for $99,000 caused her further severe mental distress. As of yet, Cardi B’s reps are yet to comment on the incident.
Is Cardi B pregnant?
Throughout Cardi B's trial there has been speculation about whether she is pregnant, particularly because she has been wearing over-sized clothes to court and has posted videos on social media where she covers her midriff. Cardi B currently has three children with her estranged husband Offset: Kulture Kiari Cephus, born in 2018, Wave Set Cephus, born in 2021, and a daughter named Blossom, who was born in September 2024. She is currently said to be dating NFL player Stefon Diggs, having made their public debut at a Knicks basketball game in May.
During the trial, things appeared to grow tense outside the courtroom when Cardi was asked a 'disrespectful' question about her relationship. A man was heard asking, 'Insiders are claiming Offset is publicly bragging about getting you pregnant for the fourth time. Do you foresee any paternity issues with Steffon Diggs?
Tossing the pen she had been using to sign autographs at the man, Cardi replied, 'You're disrespectful. Don't do that. Do you see women asking those type of questions to me? Why do you feel, as a man, you get to ask me those type of questions? Act like you have some manners. Your momma taught you, respect women.'
The rapper also appeared to shut the rumours down by responding to a comment about her appearance. Replying to a fan who asked whether she was pregnant because she appeared out of breath, Cardi responded, 'Look 30 weeks pregnant? No, you stupid b***h. I’m just f**k out of breath ’cause I have asthma… Stop f***ing being f***ing funny in this b***h before you get motherf***ing blocked, b***h. Stupid ass comment, don’t put that sh*t on me, b***h.'
Cardi's response on Instagram Live seemed to successfully shut down the rumours - that is, until she posted on X to tease that she might not have been telling the truth. 'But AM I?…' she wrote on X, along with a GIF of Tokyo Toni raising her eyebrows.
Charlotte Roberts is a news and entertainment writer at Grazia UK. She spends her days covering everything celebrity, culture, and entertainment.